Make sure to follow @PrepRedzoneNE on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all your Nebraska prep recruiting news.
IWCC Hogs and Dogs Standouts: Defense
In this article:
Camp season is in full swing and Prep Redzone Nebraska scouts are out in full force scouting at different school camps. We visited Iowa Western Community College on 5/28 to check out their individual camp. The day was split into…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingCamp season is in full swing and Prep Redzone Nebraska scouts are out in full force scouting at different school camps. We visited Iowa Western Community College on 5/28 to check out their individual camp. The day was split into two sessions including the “Hogs and Dogs” in the morning and the Skills positions in the afternoon. Hogs and Dogs consisted of offensive and defensive linemen. Skills position featured the remaining positions.
Here I wanted to feature 4 defensive players that I thought stood out during the Hogs and Dogs portion of the camp. We have 3 Omaha-area prospects and one big-time player from Gower, Missouri! Check out my defensive standouts:
Ethan Bailey (2023) | East Buchanan (MO) | 6’4″ 315 lbs
Ethan was an absolute monster at the Reiver’s Hogs and Dogs camp. Ethan is a tower of a defensive tackle at 6’4″ 315 lbs, yet he moves a lot quicker than you would expect. He really showed his mobility and athleticism in the individual drills, where I liked how low he can bend. However, the real show started in the one-on-ones where Ethan was the winner of the King of the Hill drill after dominating his way through a very impressive group of offensive linemen. Bailey uses his brute strength, violent hands, and excellent leverage to outman his opponents. He displays great pop at the snap and is wound up at all times, ready to dominate. Ethan’s performance at the IWCC camp earned him an offer from the Reivers to go along with offers from Graceland, Missouri Western, Culver State, and Doane. Ethan is coming off a monster year in which he helped East Buchanan capture their first state title in school history and should put up a great encore.
Ayden Barnby Ayden Barnby 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL Papillion-La Vista South | 2023 State NE (2023) | Papillion-La Vista South | 6’3″ 225 lbs
I walked away very impressed by Ayden’s performance at the Iowa Western camp. Ayden is a lean, lengthy defensive end/EDGE defender that will be a force in the trenches for the Titans. The aspect of Ayden’s game that I like the most is his speed and finesse when he rushes. One play during one on ones stood out to me, when Ayden used a lightning-quick spin move that left the blocker stunned in their place, it led to an easy rep win for Barnby. Ayden is coming off of a 41 tackle, 4 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 passes defended. Barnby has been hot on the recruiting trail with offers from Hastings College, Doane, and Northwestern College and should continue to add to this list as the summer continues.
Aidan Betz Aidan Betz 6'3" | 280 lbs | DL Elkhorn | 2023 State NE (2023) | Elkhorn | 6’2″ 270 lbs
Aidan has been a perennial star for the Antler’s defensive line the last couple of seasons and colleges are starting to take note. Aidan came into the Hogs and Dogs camp, fresh off of offers from Minnesota State-Mankato, Northern State, and Wayne State. Betz continued to impress at the Reiver’s camp with consistent displays of explosiveness and power. One thing I’ve always liked about Aidan’s game is how twitchy he is for a person his size. He moves his hands and feet very well and does a good job disengaging from blockers. Aidan is also legit on the offensive line and is a devastating finisher while playing through the whistle. When you watch Aidan’s tape, his hustle really stands out, and it is no surprise he was able to accumulate 35 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks as a DT. Aidan being a destructive backfield force in 2022 should come as no surprise for anyone.
Jace Wheeler Jace Wheeler 6'1" | 400 lbs | OL Papillion-La Vista | 2023 State NE (2023) | Papillion-La Vista | 6’1″ 275 lbs
Jace is a very underrated DL/OL prospect that I think is being under-recruited right now. I was left impressed by the camp performance Jace pieced together at Iowa Western. Wheeler is a nasty defender that uses his hand very well and can really go to battle in the trenches. He may be considered “undersized” for his position, but he makes up for it with his non-stop motor. Wheeler also takes advantage of his natural leverage and lower body strength to drive blockers off of their sets. Papio is gaining a reputation for producing tough offensive and defensive linemen and Wheeler looks like he’s next in line. Jace will step into a bigger role for the Monarchs in 2022 and I think he is going to put people on notice.